Combined thermodynamic power and cryogenic refrigeration system using binary working fluid
First Claim
1. A method for transforming thermal energy into mechanical energy while simultaneously producing refrigerated air utilizing binary working fluids, comprising:
- introducing a first gas/liquid working fluid mixture of a non-condensable first gas having high heat capacity and a low temperature liquid into a low-temperature closed bottoming cycle;
introducing a second working fluid gas into a topping cycle and compressing and expanding said second working fluid gas in said topping cycle to produce power;
isothermally compressing, isobarically heating, and adiabatically expanding said first working fluid mixture in said low-temperature closed bottoming cycle to produce a refrigerant; and
utilizing said refrigerant produced in said low-temperature bottoming cycle to cool said second working fluid gas of said topping cycle and to facilitate rejection of waste heat.
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Abstract
A combined thermodynamic power and cryogenic refrigeration system using a first and second (binary) working fluid has a low-temperature closed bottoming cycle and either a closed or open topping cycle. In the bottoming cycle a mixture of a first gas such as helium or hydrogen and a low temperature liquid such as liquefied nitrogen is isothermally compressed and then the liquid content is separated. The separated first gas is heated using heat from a second gas or ambient air expanded in the topping cycle and then the heated first gas is adiabatically expanded and supercooled while performing useful work and thereafter is mixed with the separated liquid to serve as a coolant and facilitate rejection of adiabatic heat and to supplement the cool gas/liquid fed to the compressor and thus completes the bottoming cycle. The bottoming cycle functions to cool the second gas during its compression in the topping cycle. The topping cycles are closed or open modified Brayton cycles. The closed topping cycle uses heat of the ambient air or other low temperature heat source to simultaneously produce cool refrigerated air and power and may function as a heat pump for warming cool ambient air. The open topping cycle may use a low temperature heat source, or a high temperature heat source with regeneration, to simultaneously produce power and cool refrigerated air with high thermal efficiency.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for transforming thermal energy into mechanical energy while simultaneously producing refrigerated air utilizing binary working fluids, comprising:
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introducing a first gas/liquid working fluid mixture of a non-condensable first gas having high heat capacity and a low temperature liquid into a low-temperature closed bottoming cycle; introducing a second working fluid gas into a topping cycle and compressing and expanding said second working fluid gas in said topping cycle to produce power; isothermally compressing, isobarically heating, and adiabatically expanding said first working fluid mixture in said low-temperature closed bottoming cycle to produce a refrigerant; and utilizing said refrigerant produced in said low-temperature bottoming cycle to cool said second working fluid gas of said topping cycle and to facilitate rejection of waste heat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for transforming thermal energy into mechanical energy while simultaneously producing refrigerated air utilizing binary working fluids, comprising:
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introducing a first gas/liquid working fluid mixture of a non-condensable first gas having high heat capacity and a low temperature liquid into a low-temperature closed bottoming cycle; introducing a second working fluid gas into a topping cycle and compressing and expanding said second working fluid gas in said topping cycle to produce power; polytropically compressing, isobarically heating, and adiabatically expanding said first working fluid mixture in said low-temperature closed bottoming cycle to produce a refrigerant; and utilizing said refrigerant produced in said low-temperature bottoming cycle to cool said second working fluid gas of said topping cycle and to facilitate rejection of waste heat.
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Specification